Surviving the Azalea Festival garden tour

Sunday

Apr 7, 2013 at 12:01 AM

I look forward to the Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Garden Tour each year

I look forward to the Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Garden Tour each year as a way to see masses of colorful flowers at a time when I'm tired of winter and tired of looking at what's in my own garden. The tour kicks off spring for me, even if the calendar says otherwise. I always see people I know, and frequently I take friends along with me. You can do the entire tour in one day – if you have a strategy. That leaves the rest of the weekend for enjoying other festivities. Here are my tips for having the most fun while seeing each of the 13 private and public gardens on this year's Azalea Garden tour. What you need to knowPlan ahead: Buy your ticket in advance and rehearse your route in your head beforehand. You can purchase tickets at almost every independent garden center in Wilmington. (This is a good chance to see what the garden shops have in stock right now, too!) If you plan to go to the ribbon cutting, get to the shuttle stop early so that you can get a good spot to watch the action. It's always really crowded. Take in the pageantry: Go to the ribbon cutting if you've never been. I went for the first time last year and it was really neat to see all of the belles and Citadel cadets. The ceremony can be kind of long, though, so you might want to stay for part of it and then catch a bus back to your car so you can get started on the rest of the tour. Get the worm: If you're not going to the ribbon cutting, be at your first garden at 10 a.m. sharp. If you get an early start, you'll beat the crowd. Wear comfortable shoes: You might even bring an extra pair of shoes to change into halfway through the day. The tour's a marathon – and a sprint! Fill your car up with gas the night before: You won't want to waste extra time stopping for gas on tour day!Take snacks and water with you, and stop for lunch: This year, there are gardens clustered near downtown and out in the Porters Neck area. A lunch stop in between is a good idea. I take a little cooler with water and tea so I always have a cold drink in the car. Charge your extra camera battery and take it with you: There are so many wonderful things to photograph! Hit up the Hobby Greenhouse Plant Sale: While not "officially" on the tour, the plant sale at the Plantation Gardens on Metts Avenue is a must-do while you're out and about.